D. L. Chambers

Oriented flight responses of female Mediterranean fruit flies to calling males, odor of calling males, and a synthetic pheromone blend

Male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), produce volatile chemicals thought to be attractive sex pheromones. We demonstrated for the first time that male odor elicits upwind flight and zigzagging upwind flight patterns in mature unmated females. Such flight patterns indicate the mechanisms involved in female location of the pheromone source and arrival at that source. Similar female oriented upwind flight responses occurred with a three component blend comprised of ethyl‐(E)‐octenoate, geranyl acetate, and E,E‐alpha farnesene. These findings clarify the role of male sex pheromone in mate‐location strategies in this species and provide new bioassay criteria for evaluating attraction responses to male pheromone and synthetic blends.

Stress-induced septicemia as an impediment to laboratory rearing of the fruit fly parasitoid Biosteres (opius) longicaudatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract High pupal mortality experienced during laboratory rearing of Biosteres longicaudatus , a parasitoid of the Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa was attributed primarily to the action of two species of opportunistic pathogens, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . These bacteria were best able to overwhelm both parasitized and nonparasitized fly larvae and pupae when they were subjected to thermal stress (rearing temperatures >30°C). Methenamine mandelate chemotherapy had no prophylactic effect, but potentially deleterious side effects (aberrant fly premating sounds) were caused by incorporation of this antibiotic in the A. suspensa larval rearing medium. Control was effected by optimizing the cultural conditions rather than by the use of antibiotics.

Comparative Volatilization of Three Lures for Male Tephritids in Hawaii: Methyl Eugenol (Oriental Fruit Fly), Cue-Lure (Melon Fly), and Trimedlure (Mediterranean Fruit Fly)

Abstract Volatilization of cue-lure, methyl eugenol, and trimedlure, the synthetic lures for male melon flies, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, oriental fruit flies, D. dorsalis Hendel, and Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), respectively, was found to take place at different rates: cue-lure showed a low level of volatility; trimedlure is comparatively very volatile; methyl eugenol is intermediate but was more similar to cue-lure than to trimedlure. Traps baited with even trimedlure would need only infrequent servicing if a lure reservoir were incorporated with the wick, and if the reservoir were made large enough to contain adequate supplies of trimedlure.